Weight Loss #8

Weight to Lose:              30 lbs

Weight Lost to Date:     16 lbs

Weight Still to Lose:      14 lbs


Yippee - over halfway there!

But I'm sick.  Yuck.  I've got a cold and I feel like crap. 

I'm not eating much, but I'm not working out either. 

Just got to get better and get back on track.

Sigh

Family & Friends

The Ross Boys (Jamie, Justin, Kyle & Jordan) Between Games

Any parent who has put their child into hockey and especially competitive hockey, knows only too well what a huge time, as well as financial commitment that means.  It's a labour of love, both for the parent and the child, since that's what you require to make those numerous practices, games and tournaments; in addition to the never ending requirements for equipment as they grow in both size and skill level.  A cold hockey arena is really only fun for those play - those watching are there in a supportive (and chilled) role.   

In 1961, Ken and Mary Lou Ross started my husband John in hockey, his brothers Les and Doug soon followed.  The rule in the Ross household was the year you learned to walk, was the winter you started to skate.  All three of the Ross boys followed that maxim.  The Ross boys were all two years apart in age, so of course this necessitated various leagues, lessons and age groupings, but also allowed for a lot of hand me downs as well.  The Ross boys played a lot of hockey in the Lindsay/Peterborough area.  John talks about by the age of 12, play by play radio broadcasts of his games would be the norm.  All the Ross boys would experience this.  All of it was made possible by Ken and Mary Lou Ross.

Brothers, John and Doug Ross

Time would pass, and eventually the Ross boys gave up their dreams of playing in the NHL and started their careers and families.  They too would now spend countless hours ferrying their kid(s) to arenas, buying equipment, coaching, sending their kids to hockey camp ... now with the youngest of the group turning 17, the time spent continuing their parent's legacy is slowly coming to a conclusion.  The matriarch of the group, Mary Lou, has continued her involvement with her grand children's hockey (Ken passed away in 1993), she's still a keen fan and supporter.  Only time will tell if this generation of hockey players will create a new generation of hockey players.

Madie (the youngest grandchild) and Mary Lou

On Monday February 21st (Family Day), we had the rare opportunity of bringing the Ross clan together to play hockey in a tournament put on by Hockey Toronto.  The Ross boys (John, Les and Doug) had never played an actual game together growing up due to their age differences.  The same with the next generation (Justin, Jordan, Jamie, Kyle & Madie).  Somehow we managed to bring it all together, with the addition of myself, Les' buddy Dave and his son Paul, along with some Blues teammates, Aaron, Meghan, Tyler and Nick.

We had an absolute blast! Doug hadn't played in an actual game in about 30 years (his equipment clearly attested to this fact).  Justin had left hockey many years ago also, but it didn't really matter, what mattered was the fact that we had a chance to spend the day together, playing a game we loved.  For the fathers to play with their sons (and daughters) was a wonderful opportunity!  

I silently thanked my luck stars that I had been working out for a month beforehand, since otherwise I wouldn't have lasted through the third game.

We acquitted ourselves well, in fact we went into overtime against the team that won the tournament, so that says a great deal for some of the talent on our team.  Mary Lou said it was hilarious to watch our bench, since all the grand kids were standing up watching, while all her sons were sitting down (valiantly trying to regain their breath).

At the end of the day, we played some great hockey, went 1 - 2, drank a few beers and more importantly got to spend some fantastic time together as a family - now that's what Family Day should be all about!

Weight Loss #7

Weight to Lose:              30 lbs

Weight Lost to Date:     15 lbs

Weight Still to Lose:      15 lbs


I'm so good!  Halfway there baby!

I can't say it's easy yet.  I still think about eating a lot of the time.  I'm trying to retrain myself to eat fruits and veggies instead of chips, but lets be real, chips taste waaaaaay better.

My appetite has decreased somewhat which is a good thing.  Now I'm more aware of the boredom and comfort eating which I'm now figuring out is where most of my weight came from (combined with a lack of exercise).

I am starting to get into the exercise.  It has helped working out with John three days a week; working out on my own one day a week; plus hitting golf balls four days a week; then on top of it all, playing hockey twice a week.  Today in fact I'm looking forward to working out, instead of trying to figure out ways to avoid it. 

Clothes are starting to fit better (which shows how tight they were before), but it'll be awhile before I go down a size.  Baby steps, remember baby steps.

I am awesome!

Zen and the Art of the Outside Edge

Skating on the Outside Edge (learning it is scary!)

I am very slow when I play hockey.  It's been a long haul getting back in shape after the near fatal butt injury (OK it wasn't "near fatal," but it felt like it at that time).  Before the injury, when I played with my co-ed team, I was always a step behind the better players.  As a winger, when we broke out of our end, I couldn't keep up with the centre or other winger when they would streak down the ice.  I gave it my best though, I was usually back in the play if the goalie gave up a rebound (to be real, I was there if the goalie gave up a third rebound).  After the six weeks off due to my butt injury, I was more than a step behind and it's been really tough trying to get back to the slow state that I was before my injury. I've been working out five days a week for a month now and I'm finally back to the speed I was before the injury.  I guess that's just another thrilling aspect of age - injury recovery time is longer!

The other night, after our game, I was bemoaning my rather plodding pace while I skate and John gave one of those rather offhand comments that your spouse will make when they're absolutely right, but they know you don't want to hear their absolutely right comment (if you're married you know what I mean); he said "You know you'd be better if you'd practice more and got up off your inside edges."  Now to give John credit, it wasn't stated in a derogatory manner, but in a simple matter of fact kind of way that brooks no argument, since he knows about a thousand times more about skating than I do.

I know I need to practice, but practicing skating isn't fun, playing hockey is fun.

So off to the rink we went (John, Madie and I).  Of course before we left I issued the caveat that "If I have to pee, we're coming home, there's no way I'm using the porta pottie!" (A girl has to have standards - it was an outside rink)  ... What my husband puts up with!

John had me practice getting up on just one skate and then making turns that would force me to use my outside edge.  So if I was standing on my left skate I had to turn left and vice versa with my right skate.  I guess it was an indication of how natural I feel on my inside edges, because the whole process felt totally alien to me!

Me (#15) on my inside edges (at least the other girl was too)

On and on I practiced.  Every now and then John would check in on my progress and encourage me.  He would proceed to effortlessly demonstrate the process over and over again.  He kept telling me to just do what he was doing ... I wanted to ask him how he'd feel if I demonstrated a two handed C major formula pattern on the piano and told him to just do what I was doing .... then again, I wanted to get better at skating and he has no interest in the piano ... sigh.

I just kept trying.  Snot was running down my face, I kept getting in every one's way as I single mindedly wobbled back and forth with my turns.  I was determined to be skating like Gretzky by the time I was finished.  In the end, we had to leave since we were scheduled to skype with Jamie later that night.  I must admit that I hadn't come close to mastering the use of the outside edge before we left the rink and we haven't been back yet because it's been so cold (remember it's an outside rink and the porta pottie issue).  Yet I am determined to practice some more and I did play a better game since I started learning the whole outside edge thing. 

Just watch out - one I get this whole outside edge thing, I should be in time for the first rebound!

Weight Loss #6

Weight to Lose:                  30 lbs

Weight Lost to Date:          11 lbs

Weight Still to Lose:           19 lbs

Yippee - 11 lbs and 11 lbs is almost 15 lbs and 15 lbs is halfway there!  Yeah, I know I'm a glass is half full kind of person!

The process is slow, but I'm OK with that.  I have to admit that I was out with my girlfriend Andrea for dinner on Thursday and that meant a cocktail (gin and tonic), a bottle of wine (Kendall Jackson chardonnay), sweet potato fries, pork dumplings, chili chicken and sliders. We had a lovely time, and I don't regret the food one little bit.  Then of course it was Super Bowl on Sunday - John's favourite team, the Steelers were playing, so of course that meant, chili, wings, pizza, chips and potato skins and of course I ate it all except the chili (I don't like beans).

Oh yeah, I also made a yummy apple crumble for dessert on Saturday night.

So when you consider that kind of consumption, it's amazing that I lost even a lb.  I was at the gym working out 5 days last week, plus one game of hockey (which I'm sure was negated by all the beer we drank afterwards).

Today I was on the treadmill for 30 mins and walked at 3.8 mph for two minutes and then ran at 4.5 for two minutes.  Thus I was jogging for 15 mins - yeah for me!

Still have a long way to go - I WILL DO THIS!

Weight Loss #5

Weight to Lose:            30 lbs

Weight Lost to Date:    10 lbs


Yeah me!  Yeah me!  Yeah me!  10 lbs is certainly an accomplishment.

So without dieting I managed to lose 10 lbs in January which tickles me pink.  I'm not dieting, but I am watching what I eat, really trying to cut out processed foods and stuff with a lot of calories.  That being said, over the weekend John and I went to dinner at a friend's place and her husband made white chocolate creme brulee which was fantastic - I ate every bite and didn't regret it in the least.  I still have to enjoy life!

The working out is going really well.  Still taking it in baby steps, but increasing stuff in tiny increments.  Yesterday on the treadmill I was still doing the 30 mins, but was walking at 3.8 mph for two minutes and jogging at 4.2 mph for one minute.  My knees are sore, but the running is hard on them because of all the weight I'm carrying, but hey, at least I'm carrying 10 lbs less!

I went on a triathlon website and just looked around.  It's still just a flirtation.  I went at looked at the price of triathlon bike - OUCH!  I can't see the flirtation changing any time soon.

Last night John, Madie and I discussed running a 5 km in the spring - something to aim towards.

I will do this!